Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

Ballaugh Bowling Club hosted the Dave McTaggart Memorial Trophy on Sunday, with an entry of 32 pairs on a green that became trickier to handle as the day went on it proved a challenge for the bowlers.

Losing out in the quarter finals were home greeners John Kneen and Barbara Graham 14-21 to South Ramsey’s Alan Moore and Glynn Hargraves, while Marown pair Philippa Taylor and Lynda Cadamy lost out 9-21 to Jordan Cain and John Kennish (South Ramsey).

In the other half of the draw Dido Kelly and Billy Cooil (South Ramsey/Castletown) got the better of South Ramsey’s Elaine Moore and Fiona Kennish 21-13, while home greeners Barry & Christine McDonald beat James Kelly and Trevor Quayle (Marown/Breagle Glen) 21-14.

At the semi-final stage an all South Ramsey affair was won comfortably by Cain and Kennish 21-8 against Moore and Hargraves, with the latter pair kept down to scoring two singles. The other semi-final saw Kelly and Cooil put an end to the home greeners challenge as they beat the McDonalds 21-11.

The final saw Kelly and Cooil start strongly, with the pair playing together for the first time in a competition, you would easily think they had played together for a number of years as they linked up well throughout the day, with Kelly leading well at the front on his favoured corner to crown mark and back, and Cooil playing the shots needed when they weren’t counting. The South/Town pairing had managed to build up a 15-10 lead, ensuring that Cain and Kennish never got a run of the jack, and crucially winning the ends in the corners to prevent the South men from getting in the corners.

The following end heading up to the crown saw a good four scored by Cain and Kennish to close the deficit to just one chalk. With the jack in the middle of the green heading to a corner was the only option. The South men were counting for one when a strike from Cooil had an element of good fortune about it hitting a short bowl onto the jack and killing the end.

With the jack in hand in the corner this was the opportunity Cain had been waiting for to get on a longer mark, however a good first bowl from Kelly ensured the hopes of getting a run in the corners were short lived, as Kelly and Cooil kept their opponents down to scoring just one more point to win 21-15.

The presentation was made by competition secretary Julie Reilly, with prizes paid down to the quarter finals. Julie thanked everyone who had entered, the catering team for the refreshments provided throughout the day. The sponsor Ann Gale was then introduced to present the prizes.